- Colombo Rotaract organises hike to Kabaragala
The one-day hike will take participants to Kabaragala, and vehicles will be provided for transportation. She also informed us that lunch will be at the summit of the mountain, so everyone will have a breathtaking view to observe while they enjoy a delicious meal.
In terms of health and safety regulations, Jayamanne explained that while usually they would have about two buses, this time, there will be at least four, in order to minimise contact with each other as much as possible.
Even during the hike, she explained, that participants will be sent in small groups with their friends, once again to minimise contact. “We can’t expect people to wear a mask while they hike, as that could be dangerous in itself, considering the altitude, so we have arranged to take them up in groups,” she commented.
For this hike too, she told us that there were many contingencies even to go ahead with it, but since the country seems to have opened up, and since hiking is one of the safest recreational options during this situation, they decided to go ahead with it.
We asked Jayamanne if they had any more plans for the rest of the Rotaract year which will end in June 2022, to which she said that they haven’t got any as of yet, since there is no point of planning ahead, considering the unpredictable situation. “If the situation does ease up by next year, then we will organise many more events, but right now, our focus is this hike and ensuring that it goes smoothly,” she stated.
What’s in Kabaragala?
Kabaragala is a mountain situated in the Dolosbage Mountain Range in the Central Province. It is renowned as the highest mountain peak in this range. Kabaragala is approximately 1,506 metres in height. It is very much similar to Horton Plains due to its flat terrain at the top and the huge drop similar to the World’s End. The highest point is at the right of the terrain.
The easiest way to get there from Kandy, which is one-and-a-half hours away from the destination, is to travel along the scenic Kandy Road passing Peradeniya, up until Gampola, and then to turn to the Gampola-Craighead Road and travel along this route until Dolosbage. The Kabaragala trail starts from the Maryville Junction in the Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage Road.
Kabaragala is a nice and easy climb that could be covered within a day with hours to spare. Jayamanne told us that the hike takes one along various types of terrain, right through a mountain village, and finally up a savanna-type grassy slope to the first viewpoint for breathtaking views of the valley below.
“A journey along the ridge from the first viewpoint would take the traveller to the summit,” she explained, adding that public transport to the foothills is available from both Gampola and Nawalapitiya, although, of course, Rotract will be providing transportation to their participants.
The first viewpoint of the mountain could be reached within just two hours after starting the climb. She explained that the path is clear until the edge of the village and from then onwards, its savanna with the trees at the top of the hill is clearly visible. She stated that the road to Craighead, at the start of the trail, is in good condition, but cautioned everyone to expect a degree of leech activity during the rainy season.
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